Can't Believe What I am Seeing

We have been talking for quite a few years about the fact that "someday" we would be buying a car because Autumn would be driving---someday. In a flash, it is here. Russ, Autumn and Brooke checked out a sweet little ride today.

Check out this beauty. This is our latest creation. Jovial by Moda. Impressive. Guess it's just gonna have to wait to be quilted. Still trying to dig our way out of the Christmas rush. We will just add it to the collection of quilts waiting to be done. Remind me..what is the story about the cobbler's children having no shoes?

Happy Thanksgiving

Wow, it has been a while since I have written anything. So, I thought I would start off with some updated photos of Autumn, Brooke and the other two lovlies, my nieces, Shania and Sarah.
I have so much to be thankful for. A wonderful family with two great children. This has been a really good year for the Adams family and we have nowhere to go but up.
By the way, aren't these photos great?! My really super good friend, whom some of you know very well, Dana, over at Old Red Barn Company, took these pictures a few weeks ago.
Autumn, featured here, is now 15 and is driving. I remember what seemed like not too many years ago, Russ and I would joke about how one day she would be driving and we would have to buy a car. At the time it seemed like light years away and in a flash, I turned around and she is all grown up. Time really does fly. Such a lovely girl, inside and out.

A beautiful picture of the four of them. They are like stairs, all in a row.





I remember well the day in late summer that I brought little Brooke home from the hospital. Autumn was only four and not quite sure what to think. Now look at them. Brooke is 10 now and starting to look very much like a teenager.





Brooke always has that look that gives you the impression that you never know what is coming next from her. She is so full of life and always keeps us laughing. Always very much aware of what is going on around her and idolizes her older sister. Brooke, you will always be so special to your Mom and Dad. We love you girls so much! Thanks for being such great kids!

Rhonda :)

New Patterns

Fain Family Reunion

Every year about this time my family gets together for an old fashioned family reunion. This has been a tradition for us for many years. It is not as much fun as it used to be because my grandmother and all her brothers and sisters are gone now. My Granny Fain was the glue that held it all together. Even though we miss her very much, we still try to carry on the tradition of good food and fellowship. This year we had a pretty good turn out of about 50 people. It is so great to see everyone and see how much all the kids have all grown. There are many of us that have grandchildren now. We are no longer the little ones in the family

This year we were fortunate enough to be able to have our reunion at the beautiful Mill Race Farm. It just so happens that is sits right on the property where my mother grew up. We were able to reminisce about all the great times my mom and her siblings and cousins had running the fields of this beautiful property. This is a picture of me Autumn and Brooke at the entrance of the farm. You can't see it because I am standing right in front of it, but the center of the sign is made with the old stone out of the grist mill that used to operate in the 40s on the farm. Family is a wonderful thing. It is one of the few things in life that are free and I am so blessed to have had this opportunity.

This beauty belongs to our friend Libie who lives all the way out in Washington state. We do quilts for her all the time and we are always so excited to see what interesting fabric and design she is going to come up with for her latest piece of work.

If you like what you see, it just so happens that Libie has an Etsy store if you would like to cruise on over and take a look. Doesn't cost a thing to window shop. You can see this lovely fabric and many many others at www.etsy.com/shop/craftygaltoo.

Our friend Rena who is a long arm quilter, as well, was kind enough to share some of her pantographs with us. Thank you so much, Rena; we really appreciate your generosity and will put these to good use. This one is called Swan Song.

This one is Meandering Geranium

This one is Hybiscus.

And last but not least, Crepe Myrtle.

All these patterns will be posted on the website in the next few days. These patterns will all be priced at .015.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer as much as we have been.

Rhonda

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Quilts of Valor........Are You Up For the Challenge??

These pictures look like just random pictures of people in a hospital with a quilt and that these are either close friends or relatives visiting them.

But there is more here than meets the eye. It just so happens that the quilts that appear in the photos were pieced by the Cherohala Quilters. This group of ladies is a small "bee" from Robbinsville, NC, who graciously give of there time to piece quilts for the Quilts of Valor program. (It was an honor to Long Arm Quilt for them.) For those of you who haven't heard about Quilts of Valor, it is a foundation that began several years ago that donates a quilt to each veteran soldier who has served in the many conflicts our country has faced in years past. The mission is to give a quilt to every soldier t. I don't think we need to be reminded about the sacrafice these brave soldiers have made for the blanket of protection we rest under.

This quilt was made by a group of ladies from Bless My Stitches Quilt Shop, the local shop in town. 12 ladies from the Block of the Month Club each made a block and I assembled the quilt and quilted it. It is on display at the shop right now and will be given soon to a soldier soon. A special thanks to Betsy Miles, a veteran herself, for her help with these project.

So, please, if you are looking for a worthy cause in which to donate time, please consider this one. If you are interested, we would like to send kits to 12 willing quilters to complete a quilt for this worthy cause. The completed blocks would be returned to The Back Porch Quilters and we will make sure the quilt gets complete and ready to ship to a worthy soldier, via the Cherohala Quilters. If you are interested, please contact me at this address: russ@thebackporchquilters.com. Let me just say in advance, thank you, thank you, thank you for everyone everywhere that donate to Quilts of Valor!

Below is a video that gives a brief description about people who ar participating in this effort.

Russ

Katy Perry at Atlanta The California Dreams Tour 2011

Tuesday we went to see Katy Perry in concert. I have to say what an AWESOME concert!!!!!

Here are some acts from the concert

Stars and Strips & New York City, NY

Autumn and I recently took a school "field trip". I use the term field trip loosely, because it was kind of an extended trip. A normal school field trip is usually for just one day and normally within the confines of a 7 hour school day. But this one was a extended by just an eentsy bit. Yeah...five days. We had such a blast! Oh yea, I forgot to tell you where we went. We went to New York City. Two country mice went to the city.

I have to admit, I was more than a little apprehensive about being able to navigate the city and not get swallowed up by just it's sheer size and the masses of people. But what we found was just the opposite. We found people to be very friendly and helpful. Anytime we found ourselves trying to figure out which train to get on at the subway station, someone would always, without us asking, come up to us and say, "Where are you trying to go?". Sure enough we would always reach our destination. A testament to what it means to be an American. Always lending aid and assistance in any form. This quilt makes me reflect on American spirit and pride.

Taking pride in helping others. It's what sets us apart from the rest of the world.

And so I say to you, in these days that sometimes seem very troubled in the world we live in, give yourselves a pat on the back for being the Americans we should all be. That is what Asiyah did with this quilt. She proudly displays her American spirit in each and every block.

This picture in Times Square reminds me of just how small but "significate" we are. That's me, Janie and Autumn in the middle of Times Square (right at the bottom of the jumbotron). Kinda like "Where's Waldo?" I will give you a hint...navy jacket, teal sweatshirt and then navy jacket again.

Probably the most moving thing we did while we were there was visiting the museum at Ground Zero. Autumn is standing outside the firestation, Station 10, specifically. This firestation is directly across the street from where the World Trade Center once stood. They, of course, were the first to respond on that tragic day. We spoke with the firefighters. They were so friendly and welcoming. Looking at their station today, you would never know some of them had witnessed and experienced. This plaque serves as a reminder of "their own" who gave unselfishly.

Our visit to the Museum of Natural History. She offered him some "gum gum", but he wouldn't take any.

This is Janie and Autumn leaving their mark on New York City. Again, in Times Square. It turns out that if you go to the American Eagle store in Times Square, they will put your picture on the jumbotron for the world to see. The caption reads, "Aren't we boss?". They think they are, but then again, don't we all when we were 14. Shhh...let's not tell them any different.

Outside the Good Morning America studio. Our poor roommate showed up at the Today Show with signs for GMA. We won't go there.

M&M World

I had only seen Lady Liberty on tv or in pictures. I always thought she was so much taller!

The ball that drops every New Year's Eve in Time's Square. Janie's little sister, Lanie, is in picture also. She hailed every cab we took while we were there. She would throw out that little are and say, "Taxi!!"

"My feet hurt."

It was so great and we had a really wonderful experience, but there is no place like home.

Rhonda

Sleeping with the Sharks

I know it seems like we have just been on the road all through spring. But, I swear, we have been home too! It just all seemed to fall over a two month span. This is a picture of Brooke and her classmates. She is the cutie in the front (white tshirt and denim shorts.) We got the opportunity to go to the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN and sleep in the shark tunnel. I don't know why they call it "Sleep With the Sharks", because you don't sleep. You just lay there all night long and watch the fish swim overhead. What a serene sight. They are amazing creatures, indeed.

We had the entire aquarium to ourselves! We got to play games, have a scavenger hunt, eat pizza, and pet the stingrays!

This ball is in front of Ripleys Believe It or Not! It is being held up by a very small amount of water---believe it......or not!

They did this really neat craft where you make an imprint of a fish. They gave a great history lesson about the technique of fish printing. She made a pillowcase with her fish print. She is giving it a little kiss.

We toured downtown Gatlinburg before settling down for a night with the sharks. We had dinner at Bubba Gump's. Brooke is trying out Bubba's shoes. We didn't get much sleep, but we had so much fun. I highly recommend this field trip for anyone of any age!

We have dance recital, 8th grade prom, and another field trip to Dollywood all within the next two weeks. Wow....I need summer break to get here so we can take a much needed rest! The Adams family wishes everyone a warm and wonderful summer!!

Rhonda :)

NEW PATTERNS

Dasmask FeathersTechno
Orange Peel

Fresh Flowers

Flames

Bush Berries

Blast Off

Belladonna